. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. CASES OF COMMENSALISM 8l crustacean. Dr. Norman suggests that the extreme flatness of the shell of the Lepton is of great advantage in enabling it not to get in the way of the G-ehia as he scuttles up and down his burrow. Another species of Lepton is found on the coast of Florida in a precisely similar locality,^ while a third species, occurring on the Oregon and California coasts, actually attaches itself to the inner surface of the abdomen of a G-ehia? A very singular case of commensalism has been recently dis- covered with regard to a genus of Austr
. The Cambridge natural history. Zoology. CASES OF COMMENSALISM 8l crustacean. Dr. Norman suggests that the extreme flatness of the shell of the Lepton is of great advantage in enabling it not to get in the way of the G-ehia as he scuttles up and down his burrow. Another species of Lepton is found on the coast of Florida in a precisely similar locality,^ while a third species, occurring on the Oregon and California coasts, actually attaches itself to the inner surface of the abdomen of a G-ehia? A very singular case of commensalism has been recently dis- covered with regard to a genus of Australian bivalve shells, Ephippodonta. This genus is never found except in the burrow of a species of prawn (^Axius plectorhynclius Str.). For some reason at present unexplained, the burrow of this particular prawn appears to be exceedingly popular as a habitat for certain bivalves, for, besides two species of Ephippodonta^ a Kellia and / Fig. S2. —Ephippodonta Mae- dougalli Tate, S. Australia. A, Burrow of prawn, the X indicating the position of the mollusc; sp, sponge. B, Ventral view of Ephippo- donta ; by, byssus; /, foot; r m, mantle; mm, fused man- tle borders. C, View of in- terior of shells ; h, hinge; mm', adductor muscles. (A X 5; B and C x 2.). three Mylitta are found there, and there alone. Sometimes the prawn, when the rock is hard, builds a tunnel of mud upon it, at other times it excavates the soft calciferous sandstone. " This burrow is lined with a tenacious brown mud, composed of excre- mentitious matter; and, in addition to the mud lining, there is always more or less present an orange-coloured sponge which I have never found elsewhere. Upon the mud or sponge, and adhering very closely, are found the Ephippodonta. They quickly form a pit-like depression by means of their foot, and appear almost covered by the ; During the winter months 1 Stimpson, quoted by Jeffrey's Brit. Conch, ii. 194. 2 Stimpson, Journ. Bost. Sac. JSf. H. vi. 1857, p. Pl
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